autonomy

American  

[aw-ton-uh-mee] / ɔˈtɒn ə mi /

noun

plural

autonomies

1. independence or freedom, as of the will or one's actions.

   the autonomy of the individual.

2. the condition of being autonomous; self-government or the right of self-government.

   The rebels demanded autonomy from Spain.

3. a self-governing community.

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autonomy British  

/ ɔːˈtɒnəmɪ /

noun

1. the right or state of self-government, esp when limited

2. a state, community, or individual possessing autonomy

3. freedom to determine one's own actions, behaviour, etc

4. philosophy

   1. the doctrine that the individual human will is or ought to be governed only by its own principles and laws See also categorical imperative

   2. the state in which one's actions are autonomous

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Other Word Forms

• autonomist noun

Etymology

Origin of autonomy

First recorded in 1615–25; from Greek autonomía “independence,” equivalent to autónom(os) autonomous + -ia -y ³

Explanation

When a group wants to govern itself or a person wants to make independent decisions, they are looking for autonomy. Autonomy comes from the Greek roots auto meaning "self" and nomos meaning "custom" or "law." This reflects the political sense of the word — a group's right to self-government or self-rule. When a person seeks autonomy, he or she would like to be able to make decisions independently from an authority figure. Can you relate?

Example Sentences

Kugelman hailed Pakistan as "an unsung success story when it comes to strategic autonomy."

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

However, he warned that “clearer evidence that unsupervised autonomy is around the corner” is needed to justify Tesla’s valuation.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

It comes amid the already rapid expansion of Plymouth's marine autonomy sector.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

We give our brains a sense of autonomy, control, mastery and a way of regulating our emotions, all of which are fundamental to our mental health.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Some researchers now believe that the stress involved in so-called high- demand, low-control jobs further down the occupational scale is more harmful than the stress of professional jobs that come with greater autonomy and control.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Related Words

• freedom
• self-determination
• self-government
• self-rule
• sovereignty